Building block

Abstract

In a building block having two spaced supportive parts separated from one another by a quantity of insulating material positioned between the parts, the block supportive parts and insulating material engage one another over relatively large areas so that the engagement therebetween contributes effectively to the structural integrity of the block as a unit. The block insulating material is exposed at such locations around the block that when the block is installed in a block wall construction, the exposed locations are hidden from view by adjacent blocks.

I claim: 
     
       1. A building block having two opposite and parallel sidewalls and two opposite and parallel ends, said sidewalls and said ends being generally perpendicular to one another, said building block comprising: two spaced block parts extending along the length of the block sidewalls so that each block part defines at least a portion of a corresponding one of the block sidewalls, each of said parts having an inner surface defining a side of the space between said block parts and including at least three substantially planar projections projecting toward the inner surface of the other of said two parts so that the plane of each projection is oriented substantially parallel to the block ends and so that portions of the inner surfaces of said block parts are defined by the surfaces of said projections, each projection of said block part being spaced from an adjacent projection of its corresponding block part a distance no greater than about one-third the length of each block sidewall and defining an enlarged end portion, said projecting portions of each of said parts being so arranged in relationship to the projecting portions of the other of said parts that the space defined therebetween is generally serpentined in cross section as viewed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the block ends and sidewalls; and   an insulating portion positioned within and substantially filling the space between said two block parts so that said enlarged end portions of said projections are in interlocking relationship with said insulating portion and said block parts are thereby securely interconnected with one another, the inner surface of one block part engaging a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over an area which is at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said one block part and the inner surface of the other block part engaging a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over an area which is at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said other block part so that the engagement between said block parts and said insulation portion contributes effectively to the structural integrity of said block as a unit.   
     
     
       2. A building block as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said projections defines a corner and said corner is rounded. 
     
     
       3. A building block as defined in claim 1 wherein said block parts and insulating portion are symmetrical in cross section about a midplane oriented perpendicular to the block ends and sidewalls. 
     
     
       4. A building block as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said inner surfaces includes a plurality of corners and each of said corners is rounded. 
     
     
       5. A building block as defined in claim 1 wherein said block is rectangular and defines a top and a bottom oriented generally perpendicular to said block ends and sidewalls, said block parts are spaced from one another at one end of said block about a first path oriented generally perpendicular to said block top and bottom and extending through a point on said one block end located generally midway between said block sidewalls, one of said block parts has an enlarged projection located at the end of said block opposite said one block end and extending between the block sidewalls so that said enlarged projection defines said opposite block end and a portion of one of said block sidewalls, the other of said block parts and said enlarged projection being spaced from one another along said one block sidewall about a second path oriented generally perpendicular to said block top and bottom and extending through a point on said one block sidewall located a distance from said opposite block and equal to about one-half the distance between said two block sidewalls, and said insulating portion is exposed around said block only along said first path and said second path so that when a block is used at a corner in a wall construction, the exposed portions of said insulating portion around said block can be hidden from view by blocks in said wall construction positioned in abutting relationship with said one block end and said one block sidewall. 
     
     
       6. A building block as defined in claim 5 wherein said insulating portion is exposed only at said block top, block bottom, one block end and one block sidewall. 
     
     
       7. In a building block having two spaced block parts, an insulating portion disposed between said block parts so as to substantially fill the space therebetween, two opposite and substantially parallel sidewalls, and two opposite and substantially parallel ends oriented substantially perpendicular to said block sidewalls, each of said block parts extending between block ends and defining at least a portion of a corresponding one of said block sidewalls and each part having an inner surface defining a side of the space between said block parts, the improvement comprising: at least three substantially planar projections defined by each of said block parts and which project toward the inner surface of the other of said block parts so that the plane of each projection is oriented substantially parallel to the block ends, each projection of said block parts being spaced from an adjacent projection of its corresponding block part a distance no greater than about one-third the length of each block sidewall and defining an enlarged end portion, said projecting portions of each of said block parts being arranged in relationship to the projecting portions of the other of said parts so that the space defined therebetween is serpentined in cross section as viewed in a plane oriented perpendicular to said block sidewalls and said block ends and so that the inner surface of one block part engages a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over a first relatively large area and the inner surface of the other block part engages a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over a second relatively large area, said first relatively large area being at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said one block part and said second relatively large area being at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said other block part.   
     
     
       8. A wall comprised of a plurality of rectangular building blocks, each of said building blocks having two opposite and substantially parallel sidewalls, a top, a bottom and two opposite and substantially parallel ends, two spaced block parts extending between said block ends, each of said parts having an inner surface defining a side of the space between said block parts and including at least three substantially planar projections projecting toward the inner surface of the other of said two block parts so that the plane of each projection is oriented substantially parallel to the block ends and so that portions of the inner surfaces of said block parts are defined by the surfaces of said projections, each projection of said block parts are defined by the surfaces of said projections, each projection of said block part being spaced from an adjacent projection of its corresponding block part a distance no greater than about one-third the length of each block sidewall and defining an enlarged end portion, said projecting portions of each of said parts being so arranged in relationship to the projecting portions of the other of said parts that the space therebetween is serpentined in cross-section as viewed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the block ends and sidewalls, and an insulating portion positioned within and substantially filling the space between said two block parts so that said enlarged end portions of said projections are in interlocking relationship with said insulating position and said block parts are thereby securely interconnected with one another, the inner surface of one block part engaging a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over an area which is at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said one block part and the inner surface of the other block part engaging a corresponding surface of an insulating portion over an area which is at least twice as large as the area of the block sidewall defined by said other block parts, said insulating portion of each block being exposed prior to installation in said wall at such locations around said block that when each block is installed in said wall, other blocks in said wall which are positioned adjacent the block hide its exposed insulating portion from view and the insulating portions of each block is generally aligned with the insulating portion of the adjacent blocks. 
     
     
       9. A wall as defined in claim 8 wherein said wall has a straight section and a corner section, each of said blocks in said straight section having its insulating portion exposed prior to installation at only said block top, block bottom, and block ends and each of said blocks in said corner section having its insulating portion exposed prior to installation at only said block top, block bottom, one block end and one block sidewall.